Hope for the future.

I just got the best phone call ever - it made my day, week, month, year. Today, I was accepted to my first choice for public health school.

In his inaugural address yesterday, President Obama said, "[G]reatness is never a given. It must be earned." Although I am in no way equating myself to be on the same platform as the forefathers of our democracy and the countless men and women who secured freedom for our nation, his words resonated in my mind; and I'm sure that power and sheer conviction with which he spoke inspired so many others, as well. As trite as it might sound, now, more than ever, I'm actually motivated to not take shortcuts, to not settle for less, to do more and to do better - all the concepts that our 44th so eloquently voiced in his speech, after taking his presidential oath. And, as if the former sentence weren't already cliché enough, to me, greatness isn't about status or power or fame, but moreso about being able to reach one's true potential - and academic pursuit, first and foremost, provides that opportunity.

The next time someone asks me, "So, what are your plans after graduation?" - I'll actually have an answer. I can tell them I'm finally on my own path to earning greatness.